Riff Tone
Killed By an Angel
Sunny Day Real Estate
Guitarrock2000s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom
AmpMarshall half-stack (model unspecified, likely JCM800 or similar era-appropriate model)
PickupsHumbuckers (likely Gibson stock, model unspecified)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
otherErnie Ball Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
Notes
Studio recording for 'Killed By an Angel' from The Rising Tide (2000). Gear confirmed by guitarist Dan Hoerner for this era and album. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. No evidence of additional studio trickery or alternate signal chains for the main riff.
Tone Character(10)
thick midrange punchcrunchy and dynamictight, articulate attackslightly compressedclear note separationaggressive but not high-gainopen, present top endfull-bodied chord voicingsdynamic response to pickingclassic Marshall crunch
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate-level control of syncopated rhythms, dynamic picking, and tight chord changes, but does not involve advanced lead or technical techniques.
Sources
“We had just started playing guitar when we wrote Diary. The alchemy came from us learning to play together”: How Sunny Day Real Estate broke rhythm and lead guitar rules to make their influential emo opus – and what’s next for their reunion | Guitar WorldSunny Day Real Estate – The Rising Tide - AlbumSunny Day Real Estate - Killed By An Angel (Official Audio)
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock2000s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom
AmpMarshall half-stack (model unspecified, likely JCM800 or similar era-appropriate model)
PickupsHumbuckers (likely Gibson stock, model unspecified)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
otherErnie Ball Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
Sources
“We had just started playing guitar when we wrote Diary. The alchemy came from us learning to play together”: How Sunny Day Real Estate broke rhythm and lead guitar rules to make their influential emo opus – and what’s next for their reunion | Guitar WorldSunny Day Real Estate – The Rising Tide - AlbumSunny Day Real Estate - Killed By An Angel (Official Audio)
Notes
Studio recording for 'Killed By an Angel' from The Rising Tide (2000). Gear confirmed by guitarist Dan Hoerner for this era and album. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. No evidence of additional studio trickery or alternate signal chains for the main riff.
Tone Character(10)
thick midrange punchcrunchy and dynamictight, articulate attackslightly compressedclear note separationaggressive but not high-gainopen, present top endfull-bodied chord voicingsdynamic response to pickingclassic Marshall crunch
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate-level control of syncopated rhythms, dynamic picking, and tight chord changes, but does not involve advanced lead or technical techniques.